Madhatter/topsy Turvy Cakes

Hi AllI was just wondering if anyone can recommend a book for learning how to do mad hatter/topsy turvy style cakes? I looked up çakes to inspire and desire'on Amazon, but the reviews weren't that great. Any books out there that are helpful in relation to this style of cake? thanks in advance!

There are at least 4 VERY distinctly different styles for these sorts of cakes and the instructions cannot be interchanged (unless you want a disaster)

Lindy Smith has a DVD that is very comprehensive - although as a Planet Cake devotee of the sharp edges was having a chuckle with Lindy when I met her about her carving OFF the sharp edges!! hahaha - seems the Brits like their curves!! She doesn't use a central dowel pole though - and I think I would stick to using one.

I don't like the method of carving into the top cake to make the cake fit 'in' - but thats just me!!

I've done the Planet Cake Madhatter course and LOVE their way

Deliciously Decadent (Taya) has done her own version of the Madhatter as a tutorial and whilst she does do things a lot differently. with shape and covering before attaching to the centre pole (oh and her centre pole is very tiny compared to PC) it will give you an idea of how to proceed and you can make your own adjustments as you go.I personally think the shapes need to be at least 3inches less at the bottom than the top (so tapered in) to give a good effect and the top tier top should be nearly parallel with your board...... they can look distrastrous if the angles are all wrong- IMO they are NOT meant to look like they are all WONKY with NO thought process at all ... remind me of a mad woman's breakfast!!

Its the careful thought process and mathematical calculations that create a cake that looks to be defying gravity that makes an amazing cake

There are at least 4 VERY distinctly different styles for these sorts of cakes and the instructions cannot be interchanged (unless you want a disaster)

Lindy Smith has a DVD that is very comprehensive - although as a Planet Cake devotee of the sharp edges was having a chuckle with Lindy when I met her about her carving OFF the sharp edges!! hahaha - seems the Brits like their curves!! She doesn't use a central dowel pole though - and I think I would stick to using one.

I don't like the method of carving into the top cake to make the cake fit 'in' - but thats just me!!

I've done the Planet Cake Madhatter course and LOVE their way

Deliciously Decadent (Taya) has done her own version of the Madhatter as a tutorial and whilst she does do things a lot differently. with shape and covering before attaching to the centre pole (oh and her centre pole is very tiny compared to PC) it will give you an idea of how to proceed and you can make your own adjustments as you go.I personally think the shapes need to be at least 3inches less at the bottom than the top (so tapered in) to give a good effect and the top tier top should be nearly parallel with your board...... they can look distrastrous if the angles are all wrong- IMO they are NOT meant to look like they are all WONKY with NO thought process at all ... remind me of a mad woman's breakfast!!

Its the careful thought process and mathematical calculations that create a cake that looks to be defying gravity that makes an amazing cake

Thanks!!! I'd never seen that site, but have been following Verusca Walker forever! So excited- Can't wait to learn some of these Australian techniques

Oh I know you will LOVE it - Jessica Pedemont travelled to USA and did a class for this Madhatter - Jamie did the class and I know for a fact she paid LOTS more than this. I know online will never take the place of a hands on class but for some people THIS is as close as they are ever going to get.

Jessica is a super fun person and she is really thorough in her demonstrating techniques - these are great videos - I have done the original Planet Cake class - and think this series of videos is as good as - probably better because you get to stop and start them - and watch them over and over - or even play them whilst you are in the middle of construction.

There are at least 70 tutorials on there now - with new ones being added all the time

I never leave comments at the on-line schools or classes I've taken..(Pretty Witty Cakes, Paul Bradford, My Cake School, Craftsy, CakeStyleTV...), but I left one on her purse cake tutorial last month...

I think I said something like, she's so completely natural on camera that it's like hanging with someone you know...

...and it is...for real!

Anyway...for people who may not want to join, there's another great option...it's a Topsy class...at CakeStyleTV...(sort of like Craftsy, you own the class without a monthly/yearly fee)

It's really, really good.

Very similar looking design to Jessica's...

They have several FREE courses and if you sign up you'll get emails pretty regularly letting you know about sales...

That class from Cake Style tv is awesome- he explains and give templates for carving and stacking and you don't have to cut out the top of your cake and compromise the structure to get the illusion of the topsy turvy. Very well explained and not expensive for the tutorial,